GENERATOR
Production: Getting Started
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CONTENTS
GETTING STARTED ............................................................................ 3
Pre-production....................................................................................................................3
Developing the idea ............................................................................................................3
Brainstorming .....................................................................................................................3
Target audience ..................................................................................................................3
Selecting the medium ....................................................................................................... 4
Selecting the genre ............................................................................................................ 4
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GETTING STARTED
PRE-PRODUCTION
Many people say that the most important phase in the creation of a film is pre-production.
Everything from the first production ideas through to preparing for the actual shoot is part
of the pre-production phase. An engaging film is the direct result of strong ideas, effective
planning and organised preparation. The filmmaking process takes time, and each
production phase is critical to the creation of a successful product.
It is essential that filmmakers carefully plan and clearly outline the intent of their
production. When commencing pre-production, filmmakers need to:
Develop an idea, message or concept.
Research and analyse their target audience.
Decide which medium is best suited for expressing their ideas.
Explore which genre will best suit their concept.
DEVELOPING THE IDEA
Filmmakers need creative inspiration to help spark their ideas before pre-production can
begin, and some filmmakers work through a variety of brainstorming activities to motivate
and challenge their creative thinking process. With a strong idea or purpose in mind,
filmmakers can begin to think about the creative possibilities and style for their production.
A strong idea also provides the necessary motivation to follow the project through to
completion.
BRAINSTORMING
Using large sheets of butchers paper, mind-map two to three possible ideas for a film
concept the more options the better.
Write words, phrases, lines or poems to help spark your imagination.
Select an unusual or everyday object to use as a device to drive the narrative of your
story. A board game, kitchen appliance or even a gardening tool can inspire creative,
abstract or quirky ideas.
Cut out newspaper articles and magazine pictures or use old photographs that may help
you select a possible message or issue to explore.
Think about your own experiences. Do you have a personal story you are passionate
about telling?
TARGET AUDIENCE
The next step in the pre-production process is to identify the target audience and consider
the production possibilities that will communicate most effectively with that audience.
Audience members observe, listen and respond in different ways. Contemporary audiences
are generally more media savvy as they are experienced at interacting with the range of
available media forms in new ways, spaces and locations. Emerging technology has
increased filmmakers accessibility to wider audiences and expanded opportunities for the
public to interact with the moving image. Audience demand for innovative approaches to
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filmmaking should be taken into consideration when selecting the medium most
appropriate to communicating a message.
Whether a production is mainstream, niche or subcultural, its success relies upon initial indepth research and understanding of the target audience. The diversity of the intended
viewer must be considered, including:
Age
Ethnicity
Geographic location
Cultural background
Education
Religion
SELECTING THE MEDIUM
With the intent of the production and target audience clearly defined, selecting the
appropriate media form to tell the story is the next stage of the pre-production process. The
most obvious choice for many filmmakers may be (digital) video, however other media
forms, including photography, print and multimedia, may also be appropriate or provide
greater room for innovative production ideas particularly when one or more are fused
together. The possibilities for communicating the intended message are endless.
Comparing and contrasting the limitations of the equipment and technology available will
often reveal what media form best suits the purpose of the work as well as highlighting
how that media form might shape the overall look, feel and content of the final product.
Audience expectations and the viewing context should be considered when selecting the
appropriate medium. It helps to think through the following steps:
Visualise where the target audience will view the film.
Explore the impact that different media forms might have in communicating with the
target audience.
List the advantages and limitations of each possible media form.
Select the form that best suits the production intent and target audience.
SELECTING THE GENRE
Films, both narrative and non-narrative, can be classified by their genre, which is based on
shared or recognisable codes and conventions such as structure, content, pattern or style.
Contemporary genres have evolved as a result of blending and borrowing from the
conventions of one or more popular genres. Some well-known genres are:
Horror
Science fiction
Romance
Western
Musical
War
Fantasy
Action
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Studying genre reveals patterns of repetition and difference in films. Some films have
identifiable similarities but may also contain elements that are used in innovative ways.
Genres change over time, and a new genre can emerge when a filmmaker borrows or
experiments with the conventions of other genres. The popularity and reshaping of
different genres often highlights the values and attitudes deemed important by society at
the time.
Watch the opening sequences of three to four films of the same genre and identify the
conventions they share and the style they have in common, such as:
Plot devices
Thematic conventions
Filmic techniques and style
Location or setting
Character types
Visual imagery and symbols
During pre-production planning, filmmakers need to select a genre that best supports their
intended message and suits their overall production style. The function of that genre and
the influence of the production context should also be considered.
To support the planning process:
Watch a range of films that provide new and innovative takes on established genres.
Think about the reasons why a director may deliberately choose to reject the conventions
of genre and what the implications of this may be.
Consider how audience expectations may influence or result in new approaches to a
genre.
How will the selected genre tap into the audiences demand for innovation or change?
What stylistic or conceptual approaches could be used?
Extending upon the process of pre-production planning, consider:
The values and attitudes of the target audience.
How the intended audiences values and attitudes might shape the way filmmaking
conventions are used in the production.
The impact the intended audiences values and attitudes have on the selection of the
appropriate genre for the message.
To avoid limiting your creativity, try to consider genre as a broader category. Working with
one or more sub-genres in mind may further extend the narrative possibilities of your work
as well as the scope of your target audience.
While genre serves its purpose in categorising a film and simplifying the selection process
for the audience member, it can also play a major part in the marketing and promotion of a
film or television show. This may raise further ideas about the promotion and distribution
process and about using a films genre as a way of targeting mainstream or niche
audiences.
Consider how genre can be used as a marketing strategy and promotional tool.
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Why promote a film based on its genre?
What impact might this have on the audiences selection and viewing preferences?
YOUR NOTES
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Education Resources > GENERATOR: Getting Started
